(Yicai) Sept. 25 -- McDonald’s China has announced it will invest more than CNY400 million (USD56.1 million) in talent training and development over the next three years.

The funds aim to upgrade McDonald’s Hamburger University China to make it smarter, more open, and more focused on comprehensive growth, thus building a catering talent training system tailored for the digital era, the Chinese branch of the US fast food behemoth said on Sept. 23.

The announcement was made on the 15th anniversary of McDonald’s Hamburger University China, which was established in 2010 as the company’s seventh global training center. McDonald’s now has 11 Hamburger Universities.

To become smarter, McDonald’s Hamburger University China will introduce artificial intelligence training companions, virtual mentors, personalized learning recommendations, and other tools to improve learning efficiency and immersion.

In terms of openness, the university will cooperate with industry associations, educational institutions, and public welfare organizations to promote the construction of talent standards in the catering industry, achieve deep integration in talent cultivation, industry development, and social influence.

To promote the comprehensive growth of individuals, the academy will provide more attentive services to students and introduce cutting-edge knowledge, such as neuroscience and positive psychology, to enhance employees’ psychological resilience, emotional management, and self-awareness abilities.

“In response to demand for talent development in the new era, Hamburger University will continue to upgrade and deepen its development around the ‘smarter, more open, and more focused on comprehensive growth’ directions,” said Lily Li, dean of McDonald’s Hamburger University China.

“It will integrate AI technologies with personalized learning, expand industry cooperation ecology, and support human growth to cultivate more outstanding restaurant management talents for the new era,” Li noted.

Hamburger University is a global training center dedicated to developing individuals’ skills and knowledge in restaurant operation quality, service, cleanliness, and value, according to the company’s website.

“It is the core cornerstone of our talent development system,” said Zhang Jiayin, chief executive officer of McDonald’s China.

McDonald’s Hamburger University has 16 colleges nationwide with around 100 experts. It trains nearly 10,000 employees and supports almost 200,000 staff through online courses every year.

Editor: Futura Costaglione